Novak Djokovic described winning Olympic gold at the fifth attempt as the biggest achievement of his career.
The Serbian ended an eight-month trophyless drought with a superb performance as he beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) to clinch the Golden Slam - without dropping a set at the Paris Games. He did so just three weeks after being beaten by Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final and two months after undergoing knee surgery.
“I won bronze at my first Olympics in 2008 and from then on I never managed to become a champion, reaching the semi-finals in three of my four appearances after that. I could not overcome this obstacle. And now, at 37 years old, against a 21-year-old player who is probably the best tennis player in the world right now, who has won Roland Garros and Wimbledon and is playing incredible tennis. When I take everything into account, this is probably the greatest sporting achievement of my career", Nole told reporters.
Djokovic has not ruled out competing at the Los Angeles Games in 2028, but admitted that the realization that Paris may be his last chance for gold has motivated him further. "I was ready for this tournament and I didn't lose a single set. I knew in the opening two rounds that the way I was playing, this was my chance. If it was going to happen, it would be now. When I qualified for the final, I felt a huge relief because it was the hurdle I had been unable to pass until now. I celebrated my victory in the semi-finals as if I had won the tournament. But of course I wanted the gold and I knew I had to climb the highest mountain at the moment in the face of Alcaraz".
The 24-time Grand Slam champion saved eight break points during his nearly three-hour encounter with the Spaniard. "I don't think I've ever, maybe a few times in my life, played at such a high level within three hours in just two sets". Congratulations to him and his tournament, he showed his great fighting spirit again", the new men's Olympic champion gave his opponent his due. | BGNES
